Press-fit bearing housing with non-cylindrical diameter

Abstract

A scroll compressor that includes a housing and scroll compressor bodies disposed in the housing. A motor is disposed within the housing and operably connected to a drive shaft for driving one of the scroll compressor bodies. The drive shaft is rotationally supported at one end by a crankcase which includes a bearing housing and a bearing. The crankcase includes a plurality of openings or gas passages passing through the crankcase, as well as a plurality of generally cylindrical sections positioned respectively between adjacent openings. The cylindrical sections define contact regions which can engage an inner periphery of the housing when the crankcase is mounted therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing comprising a cylindrical shell section; 
 scroll compressor bodies in the housing having respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases and which mutually engage for compressing fluid; 
 an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor, 
 a drive shaft for rotation about an axis, the rotor acting upon the drive shaft that in turn acts upon the scroll compressor bodies to facilitate relative orbiting movement between the scroll compressor bodies; 
 a bearing member adapted to retain the drive shaft, the bearing member comprising at least two cylinder sections that include a contact region, the at least two cylinder sections being angularly spaced apart, and separated by at least two corresponding gaps; 
 wherein the bearing member is sized to facilitate press fitting into the cylindrical shell section such that the cylindrical shell section forms to the contact region of the at least two cylinder sections; 
 wherein the cylindrical shell section defines a smaller inner radius at the at least two corresponding gaps than an outer radius defined by the at least two cylinder sections, relative to the axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing member is an upper bearing member situated generally above the electrical motor, the upper bearing member comprising a plurality of posts projecting upwardly for supporting directly or indirectly one of the scroll compressor bodies, wherein each cylinder section connects at least two adjacent posts with each gap generally separating two adjacent posts. 
     
     
       3. The scroll compressor of  claim 2 , wherein each post is connected to a pilot ring, the pilot ring slidably contacting and piloting one of the scroll compressor bodies. 
     
     
       4. The scroll compressor of  claim 3 , wherein the pilot ring is separate from the bearing member, a plurality of bolts, one for each post, connecting the pilot ring to the bearing member. 
     
     
       5. A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing comprising a cylindrical shell section; 
 scroll compressor bodies in the housing having respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases and which mutually engage for compressing fluid; 
 an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor, 
 a drive shaft for rotation about an axis, the rotor acting upon the drive shaft that in turn acts upon the scroll compressor bodies to facilitate relative orbiting movement between the scroll compressor bodies; 
 a bearing member adapted to retain the drive shaft, the bearing member comprising at least two cylinder sections that include a contact region, the at least two cylinder sections being angularly spaced apart, and separated by at least two corresponding gaps; 
 wherein the bearing member is sized to facilitate press fitting into the cylindrical shell section such that the cylindrical shell section forms to the contact region of the at least two cylinder sections; 
 wherein each cylinder section comprises an outer cylindrical surface spanning greater than 30 degrees and less than 130 degrees, further comprising at least one lubrication drainage channel formed in each cylinder section and extending vertically through the cylindrical surface from top to bottom so as to facilitate drainage. 
 
     
     
       6. A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing comprising a cylindrical shell section arranged about an axis that is vertically extending; 
 scroll compressor bodies in the housing having respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases and which mutually engage for compressing fluid; 
 an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor, 
 a drive shaft for rotation, the rotor acting upon the drive shaft that in turn acts upon the scroll compressor bodies to facilitate relative orbiting movement between the scroll compressor bodies; 
 a bearing member supporting the drive shaft for rotation, the bearing member sized to facilitate press fitting into the cylindrical shell section; 
 a pilot connected to the bearing member, the pilot slidably contacting and piloting one of the scroll compressor bodies for axial movement relative to the bearing member; wherein the bearing member comprises at least two cylinder sections, wherein each cylinder section comprises an outer cylindrical surface spanning greater than 30 degrees and less than 130 degrees, further comprising at least one lubrication drainage channel formed in each cylinder section and extending vertically through the cylindrical surface from top to bottom so as to facilitate drainage.